Beaune

Côte-d'Or, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Beaune is a sub-prefecture of the Côte-d'Or, 45 km south of Dijon, considered the capital of Burgundy wines. Its historic centre is part of the climats of the Burgundy vineyards, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. The town obtained a charter of privileges from Duke Odo III in 1203.

It is surrounded by ramparts built between 1478 and 1636, today well preserved. Its most famous monument is the Hôtel-Dieu, or Hospices de Beaune, founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin and his wife. You can see the glazed-tile roofs typical of Burgundy and a polyptych by Rogier van der Weyden.

Every year, the auction of the Hospices wines is a great event in the region. Beaune has a little over 20,000 inhabitants, which makes it the second commune of the département. The A6, A31 and A36 motorways cross there, linking it to Paris, Lyon and Dijon.

In our collectionsThe UNESCO sites of France

In our itinerariesWhat to see in the Côte-d'Or in 3 days What to see in Burgundy in 4 days

In our guidesDiscovering Burgundy-Franche-Comté: a practical guide

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